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The country is characterized by varied topography such as rugged mountains, flat-topped plateaus, deep river canyons, rolling plains and lowlands. 

The climate of Ethiopia is pleasant mainly being temperate with average temperatures rarely exceeding 20⁰c (68⁰F).

Ethiopia is the seventh largest country in Africa and third populous from the continent with an annual population growth of 2.7 (1990-98) and GNP per capital of $100. The country has a long-standing history of diverse cultural heritage resulting from the diverse tribes. Ethiopia has its own script, called Amharic which is also the national language with English being the working language.

The country has ample arable land, estimated at about 66 per cent of the 111.5 million hectares of total area of which 22 percent is said to be under cultivation. The major river basins with abundant potentials for fisheries, irrigation and hydropower development have not yet been harnessed. The country has an immense livestock resource which is believed to be one of the highest in Africa. There also exists untapped mineral resources, which has high potential for foreign exchange earnings.

About 85 percent of the population lives in rural areas, 50 percent of the total population is found between the productive age groups of 14-60. Christianity and Islam are the main religion practiced in Ethiopia.

Sources:

• Country presentation for Ethiopia, III UN Conference on the Least Developed Countries, Ministry of Economic Development and Cooperation, March 2001, Addis Ababa
• Addis Ababa Business Directory 2000-2001 Edition, Addis Ababa Chamber of Commerce

The History of NGOs in Ethiopia

The first organizations in Ethiopia which can be defined as NGOs were traditional self help systems. They existed in the country for centuries before they started to develop some sort of structure. In time developing further, some were registered as proper organizations and today they are better know as Community Based Organizations (CBOs). Some of these early self help systems were the Debo and Afarsata which were systems providing mutual aid and reconciliation. Today the commonly known self-help systems are Ekub  and Edir which is a rotating saving and credit system.

In 1960 both foreign and local NGOs were established when these self-help groups could no longer suffice to support the needy of the country. The first NGOs as we know them today, that were established in the country were the Ethiopian Red Cross and Swedish Save the Children. Following this and the famine of 1973 and later of 1984, the number of NGOs increased and these were mostly international. Later on with the change in government in 1990 a more conducive environment was established further encouraging the growth of NGOs in Ethiopia. This time as their numbers increased more local NGOs flourished.  Today 90% of NGOs operating in the country are local.

In 1998 it was reported that around 240 local and international NGOs were registered in Ethiopia. Currently, the number has risen above 350. Considering this number we can say that the NGO sector in the country as compared with Sudan, Eritrea, Djibouti and Somalia is large. However, when compared to other countries in Africa this is small.

The history of NGOs in Ethiopia began by providing relief services, which lasted for a long time. With an improvement in the situation after the famine, the focus of NGOs shifted towards rehabilitating people in need. This was then gradually followed by NGOs involvement in development programs. Although a large majority of the NGO sector undertakes development programs today, because of recurring drought in certain pocket areas of the country, there are NGOs which undertake relief activity alongside their development programs.  A further improvement in their development work is the establishment of few advocating NGOs.  Today, NGOs advocate on different policy issues that have implication on their work and/or beneficiaries.

Source: Ethiopia – Country Profile 1998, Jos van Beurden, GOM, 1998